Happy November people!!! Scarecrow season was a Spooktacular success and thank you to all who came by to build their very own scarecrow or who just came by to check it out!! We were able to raise $$$ for our charities!! I also want to thank all of our in house and sponsor builders!! There were some really creative and possibly slightly twisted folks out there!!

I think it might be time for some glasses as I’ve now asked 3 different scarecrows if they were finding the plants they needed. On my behalf, it was a long day and may have been raining and occurred before my afternoon caffeine uptake. Time to tuck away our scarecrow creations for this year…who knows what creatures will take form on the nursery September and October!!

The fall colours this season were really spectacular around the lower mainland on the days that Mother Nature isn’t trying to drown you from the sky - it is still well worth a walkabout in your local park or even around your neighbourhood. It will give you a welcomed rest from the decorating version of whiplash that is about to occur as we change over from orange, black and gold to red, green and white!!

Beauty Berry - Calicarpa bodineri ‘Profusion’

Hens and Chicks - Sempervivum

These are fascinating little sun and drought tolerant rockery plants that look amazing in the morning dew and frost!! We even have one variety that looks like gold. It GROWS that way…seriously!!!

Ironwood tree – Parrotia persica

An often over looked small tree that just grows along, looking glossy and green and minds its own business and doesn’t cause problems and then WOW!!! Along comes fall and you realize that tidy little tree you’ve been overlooking all year is actually a DIVA!! The fall colours of Parrotia persica are bold and glorious and really kick flowers in the… well anyway, they look really great!!

Blueberry Plants!!

Not only do they pay rent with their tasty offerings, these beauties just glow in fall with burgundy, red, orange and gold leaves and then continue through the winter with their red branches. Seriously…this is a win-win situation here.

I do enjoy this time of year where some of the background plants really do step up like the Red Twig Dogwood. They are really starting to glow and take centre stage now that they are losing their leaves. Add a bit of frost and snow and they will awesome!!

Don’t forget when you are raking up those leaves to leave some in the garden beds as mulch (even better if you have a mulcher blade on your mower). Don’t be too tidy when you are cleaning up and trimming back your garden…remember many pollinators overwinter in the hollow stems of spent perennials. It’s also not too late at all to plant bulbs if you want a little early glimmer of spring colour!

You will probably be rushing out for that final mow of lawn too!! Don’t forget to clean, dry and winterize your lawnmower or you will have a rusty, reluctant starter on your hands for next spring. Well, I’m off to binge eat Ben and Jerry’s and left over Halloween candy and try to get revved up about bringing out my winter clothes…yes I’m a procrastinator and no…I am not currently excited about turtle-necks and peppermint everything!!! I’ll get there, but it might take some convincing. Talk to you next month…or when you come by to visit at the nursery, stay dry, take time for yourself and don’t forget your Poppy!

I think it is safe to say that all of us plant our gardens with a vision in mind that it will be beautiful twelve months of the year, only to find that as summer passes, so does the beauty we so enjoy. So off we go to our favorite nursery to add something that will help our garden at that very moment. If you could add shrubs or small trees that serves two purposes at one time, you would be making great use of the space in your garden, no matter the size. Today, I am talking about plant color and plant contribution to wildlife. This idea of plants with two jobs easily translates to pots too!

The following is a brief list of plants that add interest to your garden for more than one reason or season!

Deciduous Shrubs

Deciduous shrubs can stand alone or act as a low to mid-size plants in a mixed garden. They make wonderful backdrops to other lower growing shrubs, low growing evergreens, perennials, and grasses. They also carry the eye easily up to the next tier of your garden which can be your taller shrubs, trees, perennials, and ornamental grasses; thus adding depth. And, finally, seeing bulbs peek out underneath them in the spring is an easy way to put a smile on your face and let you know spring is just around the corner.

Cotinus coggygria 'Gold Spirit'

Although it is hard for me to pick a favorite plant in the garden, this come close. This is the gold leafed form of the more commonly used Purple Smoke Bush. I absolutely love this shrub for many reasons. All gardens should have colored foliage included in their design. Gold foliage catches the eye like a lit candle on even the dreariest of days. For a deciduous shrub, this plant is five stars. It holds its color faithfully throughout the season, not burning at all in the heat of summer. It has incredible versatility when it comes to how big you want it to be and takes to pruning very well. Don’t be afraid to cut it back hard in the late fall or early spring . . . and try lifting it off the ground as seen in the picture to the left, to show its beautiful branching. Even bare, the shape of this versatile shrub is interesting, especially as it ages. It has its best color in full sun and is drought hardy once established. And finally, it puts on a show of incredible color in the fall.

Plant with a dark needled low growing pine such as ‘Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’

Perennials and Grasses

Fall perennials bring such varied color and height to our late season gardens and can be combined in eye catching combos. In addition to this, these plants have a very important second use if you can delay cleaning your garden beds for just a short while …. These plants will feed your birds. This is becoming increasingly more important as green space disappears. Here are just four of the many perennials and grasses that combine beauty and usefulness:

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' combined with Aster asperulus

Commonly called Black Eyed Susans, Rudbeckia comes in all sizes from the 5’ tall Rudbeckia Herbstonne to the 1’ high Rudbeckia Little Goldstar. Rudbeckia Goldsturm is seen here. There are also several Rudbeckias that are considered annuals in our part of the world that offer even more color choices than gold. This hard-working plant provides weeks of color in our fall garden, lighting up a corner on a dull day. It thrives in full sun and requires average moisture to be at its best. It is one of the most tried and true plants out there for a reason. Any aster cultivar will work its magic. The colors range from whites, to shades of pink, to shades of purple. They also bloom for weeks and come in varying heights. Everything you need to brighten your fall garden in one neat package

Echinacea combined with Pennisteum

Echinacea was perennial plant of the year in 2008, and has never looked back. From the days of pink and white flowers only, the varieties have expanded to a multitude of colors to satisfy every palette. It is a bold, strong stemmed beauty that loves the sun. Long before the birds are interested, the butterflies will enchant you as they feed. It looks spectacular on its own or combined with ornamental grasses, such as Pennisetum. This grass also has many cultivars and sizes to choose from and provides interest long into the fall months with its attractive buff coloring

Deciduous Shrubs

Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangeas

We are always on the search for plants that do well in shade to part shade. This shrub does all we can ask for in a shrub in spades. This is a plant with presence! In the early part of the year, it is dormant, showing deeply rich red- brown exfoliating bark. The leaves unfurl to be large, deeply-lobed and oak-like in shape, with a very thick, rough texture. The flowers are grape like clusters starting a rich creamy white or pink depending on the variety. Finally, the show finale is its deep red to burgundy leaf color in the Fall. It is slow to growbut well worth the wait. This hydrangea loves to grow in morning sun and afternoon shade, or all-day dappled sun. The top photo is Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’. The third photo below shows the leaf colors in rich reds and burgundies that so put on a show every year.

I love this time of year in the garden, but it is impossible to list even a small percentage of the incredible plants available to you. I encourage you to come in to Art’s Nursery and look around… ask for help. We are always happy to talk to you about our plant selection and what we can do to help you complete your garden vision.

Happy Fall everyone!!! October is one of my favorite months in the garden. I love the soft rustling of the falling leaves and the crunching of them underfoot when I walk through our local park. I adore the warm toasted brown smell of leaves and ripened grasses and nutmeg.

And the colours always take my breath away..actually so does my not quite brisk jog (ok, its more of a shuffle really) through park but I digress. In spite of the drought this summer and the massive windstorm, the leaves that have managed to hang on are giving it a brilliant go of it!! So enough of the sensory descriptions...you'll have to get outside and find your own. Here's your list:

Lawns

Miss that green colour? Happy now? Time to mow! Get your last few mows in before the weather gets colder and your grass slows its growth. You still have a little time to aerate, top-dress and over-seed if you haven't gotten to it yet. Lime can be applied if you need to adjust your PH. Try to avoid big clumps of leaves sitting on your lawn for more than a day or so. Add them to your compost or run over them with your mulching blade and use them as a top-dress.

Trees and Shrubs

Try to avoid major pruning at this time. Pests disease and fungi are very present in the air and you are opening up your trees and shrubs to major troubles. I KNOW your neighbour may be pruning at this time but that doesn't mean you need to follow suit. You can to a bit of clean up such as removing dead, damaged or diseased branches but leave the major pruning for January...when your trees and shrubs are dormant.

Fall however, is the BEST time to plant in the Pacific Northwest, especially if we continue to have such dry summers! Planting in the fall gives your trees and shrubs an extra season of root growth before they have to deal with a hot summer!

Surrey Tree Voucher Program

P.S. Surrey residents, don't forget about the Surrey Tree Voucher Program. Drop by city hall and get a $25 dollar voucher. Buy a tree at Art's with it and its worth $75 dollars. Limit 1 per household per year! The city is kind of paying you to plant a tree - it's a great deal!

Garden Beds

Just a basic clean up just to keep yourself sane. You know the drill as you've heard me say it so many times so pass over this bit if I sound a bit preachy but for our new readers...keep your garden beds a bit messy.

We have over 500 different kinds of native bees and most of them overwinter in the soil or in the hollow stems of spent perennials or other nooks and crannies. No, I don't mean you should watch out for giant hives. Most of our Native Bees are solitary dwellers and don't sting. Interestingly enough these native pollinating bees take care of up to 70 percent of our backyard pollination. With the more common honeybees taking only 30 percent of the load. Because of habitat loss and over cultivation we are seeing losses of up to 90 percent of our native pollinating bees. Two species are actually on their way to becoming extinct. There are many great sites on the web if you want to learn what you can do to help http://www.beefriendly.cais a great resource!

Lasagna Gardening

If you are planning a new garden bed for next year, now is a great time to mark out and begin your lasagna garden if you want to take advantage of time and great composting material! You can check out our archive on lasagna gardening or use your friend Google. With a bit of planning and info you can save time, money and your back while creating a healthy soil structure for your new beds!

Hanging Baskets and Planters

Hang on to your baskets...don't empty just cut off the top growth and stay tuned!! It will be worth it, you'll see!! Check drainage, do a bit of soil augmentation and tweaking of your planters as needed. If you have mixed planters with evergreens and annuals you can tidy, remove the spent annuals and add some small bulbs in for a spring surprise under your fall pansies or other fillers. Add curly twigs, corn stalks and gourds and pumpkins as needed to bling them out for fall...have fun and use your imagination :)!!

Veggie Gardens

Continue harvesting and get cold frames and cloches in place before killing frosts. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails as well. If a greenhouse is in your future or you would like to window shop, www.bcgreenhouses.com has a pretty spectacular gallery. If you would like to build your own there are some pretty clever how to websites out there. And if all else fails you can always grow sprouts in a jar and we do carry a selection of those as well and a tiny little grow light and planting bed so now even in an apartment...in the dead of winter...you can grow a salad!

Bulbs!!

Time to dream it, design it and plant it!! And for those of you who live in a squirrel rich area and lack a terrier...you can protect your bulbs by camouflaging their delicious scent (to squirrels) by planting the awfully stinky fritillaria bulbs among your tulips and crocus. Or you can try soaking or painting Plantskydd organic repellant or Bobbex on your bulbs. Use gloves...this stuff is very effective but it really, really stains!! New this year, you can shop for your bulbs online and we'll have them delivered to you!

Tools and Equipment

Once you've finished your final mow...which I am hoping is coming soon, though with this warm weather I might be mowing in November, you can empty the gas from your mower and check blades, lines etc. Towards the end of the month you can clean, inspect and oil handles and blades and sharpen or get sharpened as needed to keep everything in ship shape. A little bit of organization might be in order as well if you have garage hoarder-esque tendencies like me!!

That shoud be enough for now! Remember to get outside and enjoy it while you can, the November rains are just around the corner.

With the onset of autumn we look toward putting the garden to rest for the winter months but while we labour a spectacular display of colour sits just above our heads. These would be trees with great fall colour.

What causes the leaves to change colour in the fall?

Weather plays an important role and affects both the colour intensity and its duration. What we have had this year would be considered perfect conditions for a spectacular fall display: a hot dry summer followed by a cool rainy fall. As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop colours start to emerge beneath their blankets of green. Warm sunny days and cool clear nights trigger one of nature's most spectacular displays. Trees begin their preparation for winter by shutting down photosynthesis in the leaves which reduces the green pigment revealing the colours underneath. In some trees, especially maples, sugars that are trapped in the leaves when photosynthesis stops are turned red by the autumn sunlight and cool nights.

Acer griseum - Paperbark Maple

Highly ornamental small tree with peeling cinnamon coloured bark and small trifoliate leaves of bluish-green. It is a perfect fit for today's smaller gardens. Fall colour can be variations of red, rust and brown. Full sun in well-drained soil. Height: 6-9m Spread: 3-6m Zone: 4

Acer palmatum var. - Japanese Maple

Available in a bewildering variety of sizes, forms and colours they can be single or multistemmed small trees or low shrubs. They are quite happy in either full sun or light shade and tolerate most soil types as long as there is proper drainage (they hate wet "feet"). Fall colour ranges from yellow, orange, red and purple. Height/Spread: Varies Zone: 5

Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Katsura

Beautiful tree with a dense pyramidal habit in youth becoming more rounded (like the rest of us!) with age. Leaves open reddish-purple gradually changing to bluish-green. Fall colour is yellow to apricot with the added bonus of the sweet scent of candy floss gently wafting through the warm autumn air. Prefers a moist, well-draining soil; will stress and drop leaves during periods of drought. Height: 15-20m Spread: 12-15m Zone: 4

Cornus spp. - Dogwood

C. florida, C. kousa and C. nuttallii all make small to medium low-branched trees with upright spreading habits that develop into a rounded crowns. White or pink flowers in spring. Foliage is green through the spring and summer seasons turning red and purples in fall and may last several weeks. All prefer partial shade in cool, moist soils. Height: 6-8m Spread: 6-8m Zone: 5-6

Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweetgum

Fast growing tree with star-shaped, dark glossy green leaves and a neat pyramidal crown that becomes more rounded with age. Cork-like greyish brown deeply furrowed bark adds interest through the seasons and especially during the winter months. Fall colouring is fairly consistent and can vary depending on cultivar from yellow to apricot-orange and purple-red. Full sun. Height: 18m Spread: 12m Zone: 5

Stewartia spp.

Highly desirable small to medium growing tree that forms a pyramidal to oval crown. Bark is sinuous and smooth with patches of soft grey-green over orange-brown. Single petaled white flowers June into July; very elegant. Leaves are dark green through the growing season becoming yellow, red or purplish-red in fall. Sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Height: 8-12m Spread: 7-10m Zone: 5

Styrax japonicus - Japanese Snowbell

Small to medium growing tree with wide spreading horizontal branches that form a broad-rounded crown. Hanging clusters of fragrant, dainty bell-shaped white flowers; May into June. Leaves are medium to dark green in summer and change to yellow or shades of red in fall. Full sun to light shade in well draining soils. Height: 7-8m Spread: 8m Zone: 5

When everyone thinks of fall colours, all eyes turn towards the japanese maples. However, there are many other lesser known plants that can also provide striking fall foliage colours.

Ruby Slippers Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'

A profusion of exceptionally large flower clusters are showcased against a dark green deeply-lobed oak-like leaf. Blossoms open white in summer and quickly age to deep pink. Foliage turns a brilliant mahogany in fall. compact form is well suited for small landscapes. Ideally used in mass plantings, hedges and mixed borders. An introduction from the US National Arboreteum. Best grown in part sun in moist, but well drained soils. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Fast growing to 3.5ft high and 4-5ft wide.

Henry's Garnet Sweetspire

Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'

Brilliant red-purple fall foliage colour lasts into winter to make this deciduous shrub a standout in the landscape. Fragrant, white bottlebrush-like flowers in early summer add to the year round interest of this award winning plant. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Henry's Garnet is a moderate grower to 5-6ft tall and wide. Best when planted in full to part sun in moist, but well drained soils.

Red-Leafed Mukdenia

Mukdenia rossi 'Crimson Fans'

We've talked about this one before, but it's always a favourite perennial amongst designers. Fanned, maple-like leaves emerge bright green in spring, age to bronze-green and by summer mautre to green with bright red streaks. In early spring, white, bell-shaped flowers dance above the foliage. A lush and colourful groundcover or accent in borders. Deciduous perennial. Best when planted in part sun or part shade. forms a spreading clump to 12 inches tall. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9.

Tiger Eyes Sumac

Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger'

Fuzzy stems, bright yellow to lemon-lime foliage and intense fall colour make this spreading shrub or shrubby tree a winner in the landscape. This shrub just screams 'look at me'. New foliage is chartreuse and turns yellow, orange and scarlet in the fall. Flowers are yellowish green and followed, on female plants, dark red, hairy fruit. Tiger Eyes does spread by suckers and will expand over time. Best in full sun and moist, but well drained soils. Will reach 6ft in height and spread.

Burgundy Bunny Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Burgundy Bunny'

While everybody loves that other, not-so-hardy fountain grass, this smaller cousin is worth looking at. Burgundy Bunny is a dense, deciduous ornamental grass that forms clumps of narrow green foliage with strong red highlights. Dwarf habit. In the fall, the plant takes on a over-all striking red colour. Small cream-coloured, bottle-brush flowers appear in summer. Ideal in borders, mass plantings and containers. Performs best in moist soil. Prefers full sun. Grows to 18 inches in height and spread. Hardy to Zone 5.

All of these plants are generally available at Art's Nursery. As always, please call 604.882.1201 to confirm availability if you are making a special trip out to see us. Our selection is always changing! If you have any questions about these plants or any others to deliver great fall colour, drop by or give us a ring!

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Art's Nursery is a 10+ acre retail and wholesale garden centre located in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We've been in business at this same location since 1973 and we're proud to serve you today!

We carry an incredible selection of plants, shrubs, trees, annuals, perennials, vines, groundcovers, roses and much more. Soils, bulk materials, pottery and a variety of garden accents are also available.

Our plant selection is so large that you can actually drive a golf cart while you shop!

We pride ourselves on providing high quality plant, expert advice and an exceptional gardening experience.